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Another chapter comes to an end.
All that remains for the small, yet undeniably determined Soul to observe is the void around it — the void, and its own glow. Time does not pass the same way for it; while for Lightners a mere day goes by, for the Soul, years pass.
Years in the void, with nothing but the company of its own thoughts and...
The company of the being who summoned it into this world.
It is frustrating, the Soul admits. The Entity never reveals itself, never shows its face, and never speaks its own name. The only thing it allows is communication… though it may be one-sided — the Soul has no means to reply.
So everything is left to body language and the Entity’s ability to understand. And, strangely enough, it works — but of course, the Soul is not satisfied with just that. It is almost certain of the Entity’s identity. Almost. A creature, a mystery — an enigma the Soul encountered in another time, in another universe. A being that fascinated it so deeply that the following years of its existence were spent gathering the scattered pieces left behind in the world. Learning its history, its influence, and its role in that universe so uniquely similar to itself.
This being is Wing Ding Gaster — the monster who will one day lead the Soul down the path of madness.
If only he would reveal himself… It can’t be THAT difficult to gather enough strength to form a physical body — the Soul thinks, remaining in the void, lightly sitting in the empty space as its glow flickers.
After a few seconds of pure silence — a silence the Soul needs — Gaster’s voice finally appears, making it jolt upright in surprise.
"VERY WELL
ANOTHER PART
OF THE STORY
HAS BEEN SHAPED
BY YOU."
The Soul looks around, searching for any sign of Gaster beyond his penetrating voice. In the void, nothing reveals itself but the eternity of that place. Even without success, the Soul still grows excited — any interaction with Gaster, no matter how small, fills it with immense euphoria.
"NOW
WE MUST
WAIT.
THE NEXT STEPS
WILL BE FORGED
AND YOUR JOURNEY
WILL CONTINUE."
The Soul stirs, floating in circles in a display of enthusiasm, leaving behind a trail of light — an effect caused by its ethereal, smoke-like body.
"ARE YOU EXCITED?"
Floating back and forth repeatedly, the Soul tries to express its agreement.
"OH, TRULY INTERESTING.
I APPRECIATE YOUR
LOVELY ENTHUSIASM."
Provoked by the compliment, the Soul becomes even more animated, looping through the air in the shape of infinity over and over again. It resembles a dog in behavior — something that does not go unnoticed by Gaster.
"WONDERFUL.
NOW, WHAT REMAINS FOR YOU
IS THE NECESSARY PATIENCE."
With those final words, the Soul slows its movements and gazes into the void. Patience — a true trial. It is not as if it has not endured it before. Over the years, the Soul has become a specialist in the art of waiting. But of course, that does not make it any less disappointing. It likely never will.
"OH NO
DO NOT BE DISHEARTENED.
THE WAIT WILL NOT BE
AS LONG THIS TIME."
Not as long? — its attention is captured again, and the Soul looks upward expectantly, waiting for an explanation.
"YES.
COMPARED TO
PREVIOUS WAITS,
THIS ONE WILL BE SHORTER.
MUCH SHORTER.
SO, PLEASE,
DO NOT BE UPSET."
Surprise, understanding, and euphoria. It feels it all and attempts to convey it through movement — spins, zigzags, and eager nodding. — Not as long! I won’t have to wait years! I won’t have to spend years staring into the void again! — the Soul dances in the emptiness, or at least as much as a glowing heart surrounded by ethereal smoke can dance.
Gaster lets out a quiet laugh at the exaggerated reaction and observes the Soul. Its dreamlike form is truly a spectacle to behold.
"WONDERFUL.
CHARMING.
YOUR BEAUTIFUL EUPHORIA
IS CONTAGIOUS,
DEAR SOUL."
At the sudden compliment, the Soul seems to grow embarrassed, the bright red of its heart intensifying as the surrounding smoke flickers. Its movements soften.
"OH."
*That’s it? “Oh”? — the previous embarrassment is quickly replaced by something akin to disbelief… and humor. The Soul begins to move erratically, as if laughing. Though it cannot laugh out loud, it is very clearly laughing internally — and with its entire body.
"I DO NOT…
YOU…"
Still laughing uncontrollably, the Soul tries to compose itself to listen, though Gaster himself seems momentarily at a loss for words. The situation has caught them both off guard.
After a few seconds, a faint clearing of a throat is heard. Gaster, still slightly awkward, attempts to continue.
"APOLOGIES.
MY WORDS WERE
SOMEWHAT UNEXPECTED.
WE HAVE STRAYED
FROM THE IMPORTANT MATTER,
HAVE WE NOT?"
Sure, buddy —.The Soul nods, listening attentively. Gaster resumes speaking of the next chapter of the story, though without going into much detail, and the Soul finds itself thinking — Honestly, if I were to spend eternity in this place, it would not be so bad with his company.
… The thought was true, and it would remain so in the future.
Even being such a mysterious and peculiar creature — one that for so long had been such a great enigma that any interaction seemed impossible, whose actions were so cryptic that countless interpretations had been imposed upon him — none had ever imagined an entity so… Silly
It is almost delirious to realize that the real Gaster is truly communicating — communicating in the most peculiar ways, yet still communicating — and saying things that almost resemble flirting. In truth, it is somewhat insane that this is reality. That he is not some malevolent scientist or an unreachable figure, and that the Soul would not spend the rest of its existence obsessing over something it could never attain.
And that is when it realizes.
Even if he does not appear physically, does not show his face, nor speak his name… he is real, and he seeks to communicate. And even if he never reveals himself, at the very least, I could listen to his voice for the rest of eternity.
...
The Soul spins slowly in the void.
Yes… I would spend eternity with him — it thinks, nodding slightly, only to realize it had not heard a single word Gaster had said.
Ah.
"THEN…
I SUPPOSE…
YOU UNDERSTAND?
...
Until the next chapter comes, I will still have much to hear — won’t I? — the Soul thinks, without a single regret.